November 23, 2006

Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, and South Sauty Baptist Church, Langston, again led the state in giving through the Cooperative Program (CP) in 2005.

John MacLaren, director of the office of Cooperative Program and stewardship development for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), recognized these and the other top five churches that gave the most in actual dollars and the most in dollars per resident member during his report at the annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention Nov. 14.

Lance also presented a plaque to Jerry Butler, pastor of South Sauty Baptist in Marshall Baptist Association. South Sauty’s 40 members gave $24,960, which would be $624 per resident member.

MacLaren also recognized the associations that had 100 percent of their churches give through the CP in 2005. These were: Autauga Association, led by Director of Missions (DOM) Bill Morgan; Bethlehem and Pine Barren Associations, both led by DOM Wayne McMillian, who is now serving a pastorate; Chilton Association, led by DOM Larry Felkins; Hale Association, led by DOM Denny Goodwin; Judson Association, led by DOM Bob Pemberton; and Sand Mountain Association, led by DOM David Patty. (TAB)